The South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff kicked off the internal portion of the SGTC Foundation’s 2025 TechForce “Creating Opportunities” fund drive by contributing nearly $25,000 through employee payroll donations and silent auction bids at the SGTC Foundation Employee Luncheon and Silent Auction celebration in the John M. Pope Center recently.
The SGTC Foundation “Creating Opportunities” fund drive will be raising $250,000 for student scholarships and grants for academically deserving and financially disadvantaged students, the use of textbooks at no cost to students, equipment for the Nursing programs, and renovations and expansion of the James S. Peters gymnasium. All donations will be matched dollar for dollar by state and federal grants.
The South Georgia Technical College Foundation’s 26th annual TechForce fundraising drive was kicked off internally with a faculty-staff luncheon that included a silent auction, a fun gameshow type contest, team building activities, payroll deduction pledges, and raffle drawings for a Coach purse from Dillard’s and a box blade made by the SGTC Welding Department and students.
These efforts resulted in over $25,000 in donations to the “Creating Opportunities” TechForce 2025 drive from approximately 150 faculty and staff on the SGTC Americus and Crisp County campuses. SGTC Cosmetology Instructor Dorothea McKenzie won the purse and SGTC retired maintenance director Jeff Wiseman won the box blade raffle.
“This was awesome,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “Not only did our faculty and staff support the Foundation’s efforts to provide additional opportunities for students to attend and remain in school, they had a fun time fundraising. And their efforts are helping to create opportunities for students and the individuals that live and work in our communities. I would like to thank SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird as well as Criminal Justice Instructor Teresa McCook and Academic Dean Dr. David Finley for their leadership in spearheading this event.”
SGTC employees took part in “Creating Opportunities @ South Georgia Tech” activities at the Silent Auction and Luncheon and there were a number of individual winners. The email contest winners who had to provide answers to questions about the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and general questions were: Shatarra Lundy, Chef Ricky Watzlowick, Chief Calvin Hodge, Kari Bodrey, Amanda Murray and D.W. Persall. They each won a prize for their correct answers.
SGTC Internal TechForce Committee Chairpersons Teresa McCook and Dr. David Finley oversaw the events of the day along with committee members: Leah Cannady, Pat Peacock, Josh Curtin, David Cox, Tami Blount, Macy Williams, Christina Strickland, Chester Taylor, Jennifer Gilmore, Peiare Adderley, Jennifer Robinson, Melissa Grantham, Dr. Michele Seay, Dorothea McKenzie, Tammy Hamilton, Jeff Sheppard, Thomas Mayo, Jason Wisham, Tylen Pepito, and Matthew Burks.
Approximately 55 employees took home great prizes in the Silent Auction. Over 155 items were available for employees to bid on and over 700 bids were submitted.
All donations for program equipment and support, scholarships, and textbooks as well as the renovation of the gymnasium during the SGTC Foundation TechForce 2025 fund drive will be matched dollar-for-dollar through federal and state grants and by the Technical College System of Georgia. This helps provide workforce development opportunities for students.
“The South Georgia Technical College Foundation is a vital part of our college’s success,” explained South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We appreciate the support that we receive from our employees and from the community through the foundation fund drives. Over 36 different programs have benefited directly from the past 25 TechForce drives with additional state-of-the-art equipment. The entire college and community have benefited from the scholarships and the use of free textbooks for students. These donations have also helped with the James Hall and Martin Hall dorm renovations and the renovations to the former DOAS Surplus Building which has been transformed into an adult education classroom building as well as the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology and Motorsports program classrooms and labs. We appreciate the support of our boards, faculty, staff, and community partners for their help in ‘Bridging the Gap at South Georgia Tech.”
The TechForce 2025 fund drive has already gotten off to a good start with the help of employees, business and industry partners and local supporters who have donated items for the SGTC Foundation Internal TechForce drive, luncheon and silent auction. Each year nearly 100% of the SGTC employees contribute to the TechForce drive through payroll deduction or one-time donations.
Approximately $700,000 of the over $7 million raised by the TechForce campaigns over the past 25 years has been donated by South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff.
Members of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation and the SGTC Board of Directors as well as other volunteers will be calling community leaders asking for support of the fund drive again this year. Postcards and solicitation letters were sent out to community leaders asking for support. SGTC Foundation Trustee and Development Committee chairman John Argo is head of the TechForce 2024 external drive for the Foundation
For more information about the TechForce 2025 fund drive or to donate to the Foundation, contact South Georgia Technical College Foundation Executive Director and SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu.
Over 100 different individuals and businesses from the South Georgia Technical College service area donated items to the employee silent auction. Those businesses and individuals included: Dillard’s, Miller-NAPA Auto Parts, Westover Outdoor Power Equipment, Dr. John and Barbara Watford, Dorothea’s Beauty Salon, Dorothea Lusane McKenzie, Nu Image Salon at the Lake, Engineering and Equipment Company, SGTC Americus and Crisp County Welding students and instructors, Advanced Auto, Adams Drug Store, Center Point Creations, In Good Taste at the Maze, Johnstone Supply Company, T31 Design House, Aramark, Brett Murray, J & J Oil Change, Clinic Drug Store, Southwest Trophy and Gifts, SGTC Americus & Cordele Culinary Arts, Mary Kay – Jennifer Rogers, Melissa Grantham, SGTC Bookstore, Clinic Drug Store, Shiver Lumber Company, Sumter EMC, Sally’s Nails, Minnie Williamson, Pat Peacock, Tami Blount, Chef Ricky Watzlowick, Drivers Propane, Ginx Boutique, Southwest Georgia Wholesale, Decorating Unlimited, Minick’s, Horne Pecan Company, Bradley Home, Sherri Martin, Roman Oven, Keith Landers Party Supply Rentals, Su Ann Bird, Morgan Chandler Eye Works, The Tin Roof, The Sheppard House, Gammage Print Shop, Dr. Michele Seay, Home Depot, Wells Hardware, Tractor Supply, Advanced Auto Parts, Josh Curtin, Med Spa, Sunbelt Ford, Savannah Bananas, Centerpoint Creations, Charlene Williams/Avon, , Danisha Dewberry, Dr. David Finley, DeAnn Pepito, Deep South Power and Equipment, Puckett-CAT, Jordan Swim School, Red Owl, Matthew Burks, Warren Outdoors, and more.